Can opener



May 6 1924.

1,492,855 J. A. LINN CAN, OPENER -Filed Dez. 11. 1922 Fig. 2,

l a E Fig.3

INVENTOR.

- v Ja/ZI'IALI'IIH. H9 .5. BY l r A TTORNEY res Patented May 6, 1924. 7

some A. LINN, or sroux CITY,

can ornnnn.

application filed December 11, 1922. Serial 1%. 606,024,

and useful Improvements in Can-Openers,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a can-opener embodying certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts whereby the head of the can is sheared closely "adjacent the rim and leaves no burrs or rough edges whatever.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of this class-which opens a can quickly with little effort on the part of the operator,- and which is comparatively inexpensive in production.

The above objects I sucessfully attain in a device consisting, broadly, of two handles pivoted together scissors-like, one having a shoulder engaging the under edge of the rim and adjacent the periphery of the can, and the other having a blade which shears downwardly through the head of the can and adjacent the rim, all of which will be clearly understood from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, of which,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can-opener embodying my invention:

Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper handle and its aw. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the lower handle and its jaw.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device as applied to a can, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view in the act of shearing the head of a can, a part being cut away.

Referring, now, to the illustrations, I pro vide upper and lower handles, 6 and 7, respectively, pivoted together, as at 8, the upper handle carrying the lower jaw, 9, and the lower handle provided with the upper jaw, 10. The jaws are laterally offset in like directions, as atv 11, in order that the handles and the hand of the operator will be out of the way of the can in operation. The lower jaw, 9, is provided with a suitable upper projection or shoulder which may be afi'orded by the plate, 12, engageable adjacent the periphery of the can with the under edge of the bead, 13, or are an, 14: (Figs; his 15 The lower edge ofthe jaw,' :i9 is provided with a lateral projection engageable with the periphery .of the can to hold" the plate,

12,at a slight angle to the wall of the can, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and This'may be afforded by a narrow flange,'15,' on the lower edge of'the plate,-12. 1

The. upper edge of the 1: late', 12, is preferably curved longitudinally, as at 16, to permit the plate to roll on the under edge of the bead of the can, when the deviceisioperated, as will presently appear. The forwardend of the jaw, 9, also is preferably provided with a hook, 17, engageable over the rim of 'thecan to facilitate operation "and prevent accidental displacement of the device asit travels around the can.

The upper jaw, 10, carries a suitable blade, 18, the under edge of which is beveled to a sharp edge on the side thereof remote from the plate, 12, the said blade being so positioned and related to the plate, -12, that it will shear through the head of the can close ly adjacent the rim. The blade, 18, is also curved slightly longitudinally to conform, somewhat, to the curvatureof the wall of the can.

The plate, 12, being disposed at a slight angle to the wall of the can and the blade, 18,

prevents binding of the wall of the can be tween the plate and blade.

The jaws are preferably held yieldably open by a leaf spring, 19, between the handles.

It is thought the operation of the device is readily apparent, and that it completelyshears the head from the can, with little effort on the part of the operator, and leaves a smooth edge which does not project inside of the can to injure a persons hands or inthe least obstruct the removal of the contents of the can.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of the invention, I would not be understood as being limited to the specific structure disclosed, for numerous alterations and modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts,

'may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims, to-wit:

1. An opener for a can having a bead, comprising upper and lower jaws movable toward and from each other, the lower jaw IOWA, ASSIGN'OR or THREE-FIETHS rennet. cotton, oresroux cr'ry, Iowa. a a

including a plate engageable with the under edge of the bead, and a lateral projection engageable with the wall of the can to hold said plate at a slight angle thereto, a blade on the other jaw to shear through the hea of the can adjacent the bead, and operating means by which the jaws are carried and operated.

2. An opener fora can having a bead, comprising upper and lower jaws movable toward and from each other, the lower jaw including a plate engageable with the under edge of the bead, and a. lateral projection err gageable with the wall of the can to hold said plate at a slight angle thereto, a blade on the other jaw to shear through the head of the can adjacent the bead, and handles operatively connected with the jaws.

3. An opener for a can having a bead, comprising upper and lower jaws movable toward and from each other, the lower jaw in cluding a plate engageable with the under edge of the bead, a hook engageable over the bead, and a lateral projection engageable with the wall of the can to hold said plate at a slight angle thereto, a blade on the other jaw to shear through the head of the can adjacent the bead, and handles operatively connected with the jaws.

4. An opener for a can having a bead comprising upper and lower jaws movable toward and from each other, the lower jaw including a plate engageable with the under edge of the bead, the contacting edge of the plate being arcuate whereby it may roll on the under edge of the bead, and a lateral projection engageable with the wall of the can to hold said plate at a slight angle thereto, a blade on the other jaw to shear through the head of the can adjacent the bead, and handles operatively connected with the jaws.

5. An opener for a can having a bead, comprising upper and lower jaws movable toward and from each other, the lower jaw including a plate engageable with the under edge of the bead, the contacting edge of the plate being arcuate to roll on the under edge of the bead, a blade on the other jaw to shear through the head of the can adjacent the bead, and handles operatively connected with the jaws.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of December, 1922.

JOHN A. LINN.

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